CHAPTER 190: Lawyered Up

"So she just WALKED, Tony?" 

"We couldn't do anything about it, Action...her lawyer instructed her to say nothing and we had only circumstantial evidence against her...so she made bail easily."

"But the handling stolen silverware charge, surely that..."

"Her lawyer got her to make a prepared statement which he read out saying that she bought that silverware as a job lot at a flea market and had no idea of its origins."

"Yeah, and what about her previous convictions?"

"The lawyer spun a story that as it's hard for a former con to find work our suspect was forced to become self-employed as an antiques dealer and is still learning the ins and outs of the trade so mistakes like the handling of the Goth silverware are common.  I'm telling you, Action, her lawyer was top of the range, smart, knew all the loopholes."

"And a legal team like that don't come cheap, Tony.  Maddy Henson's got someone backing her financially."

"I'm sorry we couldn't get the charges to stick this time, Action"

Action stood up from the table he and Detective Tony Gunn were sitting at and paced the room.  "Not your fault, Tony...we didn't consider all the factors, like Henson getting a top lawyer just like that.  She was a top cat burglar; she knows all the tricks of the trade when it comes to being arrested...we should have thought about that.  I blame myself for not alerting the team to that."

Tony leant back in his chair and tried to find something of hope to say to Action.  "I guess the one good thing left is that she is out on bail and it gives us a bit more time to find evidence to get her before it goes to court." he said.

"Yeah, but we've got to work a lot harder..." said Action and with that he left the recreation area of the station and headed downstairs.  Maybe forensics had something new, he thought.  Luckily for him his favourite forensic expert was working a shift at the station today:  Bibi Stahler, the best criminologist in town.

"What is it that you're looking for, Action?" said Bibi

"Anything, Bibi, just a bit more than a few stray red hairs to nail this thief!" said Action in a frustrated tone.  "We know she did this but I need a fingerprint...even just half of one...or anything else left at the crime scene."

"I wish I could give you the evidence that you need but the thieves were professionals, they left almost nothing of themselves at the scene except those hairs.  However..." she said as a thought occurred to her.

"However?" Action replied.

"However...hmm...this is a bit of a stretch but already the Chief is looking at another suspect."  

Action's attention had been grabbed and he focussed intensely on Bibi.  "Another suspect?  Who?"

"A petty thief by the name of Erin O'Malley.  She has red hair too which is why the Chief is hoping she's the one we're looking for instead.  I need some hair samples plus her fingerprints as I have a theory developing..."

"Sounds interesting, what theory?"

Bibi shut her eyes and waved her hand in front of her face a few times.  "No, no.  I will not share it until I am certain.  I do not want to give the detectives, whoever they are, false hope.  Just get me the hair and fingerprints then, after careful examination, I will tell you what I find.  Now, go." she said, giving Action a dismissive gesture with her hand, wafting him away.

Action cracked a wry smile at Bibi's typical Teutonic bluntness and headed off to lock-up to process this Erin O'Malley.

 Action found a red headed lady in the lock up room.  She was in her mid-30s and had a dough like quality to her face as it was jowly and very pale and was crowned by shoulder length bobbed hair with a straight fringe.  It was difficult to tell if she was slim or overweight in those garish orange overalls suspects wore in the lock-up.

"OK, Miss O'Malley, I'm gonna take you to get fingerprinted" said Action, blandly; as if he had become bored with the same old routine with a suspect.

"Sure...go ahead.  I did nothing!  I certainly didn't do that Goth Mansion job." she replied, defiantly.

"So you know about the burglary there?" said Action.

"Sure.  It's in all the newspapers.  So I take an interest in local crime stories; that's not illegal."

"So long as it's just an academic interest and not a practical hobby" Action replied.

He took her along a short walk to the fingerprint station where he carried out the routine with the printed sheet and ink pad just as he had done a hundred times before.  O'Malley had very pale and soft hands that only had a few wrinkles on them.

"I've read your rap sheet, Erin, and you've got form for stealing" said Action.

"Yeah, both for petty pilfering from shops.  First time I was let off with a caution and the second time I did six months in prison.  The Goth Mansion is way above my pay grade.  I wouldn't know how to burgle it...they probably have vampire bats for guards."

"Well, sometimes criminals get too ambitious:  We know the thief was a woman with red hair..."

"IT WASN'T ME!" Said Erin, sternly.

"You'll probably make bail and if I were you and were sure of your innocence...I'd try to snoop around to clear my name." said Action, languidly.

"Why you...you want me to do your job for you!" she snarled.

"It would help both of us if you did" Action replied.  After fingerprinting he led her back to the lock up.  "Think about it" he said as a parting gesture.

Action went back to forensics carrying the fingerprint sheet but he knew trying to pin the Goth mansion job on Erin O'Malley was a fool's errand.  Bibi was still there, along with Cole Michaels and they seemed deep in conversation when Action entered the room.

"I got O'Malley's fingerprints, for all the good it will do this case" he said, flinging the sheet on to Bibi's desk.

Bibi picked it up and looked at the prints, intensely.  Then she went back over to the database where Cole was sitting.  "Please to be finding any matches between these and what were recovered at the crime scene" she said to Cole, in that German way where the pleases and thank yous came at the beginning of a sentence instead of the end.

Cole went through the microfiche records of prints whilst Action gave a small evidence bag to Bibi that contained a few of Erin's hairs.  Bibi wasted no time in taking it to her lab bench to perform some tests on it.  And with that, Action had nothing left to do other than wait for results.

It was Cole who made the initial breakthrough, and even then it was hardly revelatory.  "Action!  I've cross referenced O'Malley's prints with the crime scene and nothing.  Her prints were not to be found there." he said.

"I could have told you that" Action replied.  "O'Malley is a dead end, always was."

"What shall we do next?" asked Cole.  Action gave it some thought.  "Put a tail on Henson.  Watch where she goes and who she meets.  If she meets with the fence again, I want to know who that is."

"There is one thing, Action..." Cole continued.  "We have a list of Henson's last 5 known addresses and get this:  When she got out of prison the last time, in '63, she was briefly living at Sage Estates in Willow Creek."

Action let out a long whistle and shook his head.  "Sage Estates, expensive place. Someone must have been bankrolling her lifestyle.  Let's find out who."

"Where are you going?" asked Bibi.

"I think I'm gonna take a stroll around Sage Estates for a while" Action replied, with a wry smile.

The drive from Precinct 13, which was down by the river, up to the low hills of Willow Creek saw a gradual increase in the wealth and opulence of the residences.  Sage Estates was the most expensive area in the suburb; where the fine architecture of the antebellum period mixed in with the ultra-modern, minimalist style.

He parked his car near a small municipal park and started looking around the place, making a note of the place Maddy Henson had allegedly stayed in on her last release from prison.  She had a been a successful thief in her day...still is...Action thought, but she couldn't afford Sage Estates...who's your patron, Maddy?  He thought again as he scanned the area.

His thoughts suddenly came crashing to a halt when he saw a very attractive red headed young woman, wearing a purple and pink outfit, hanging around one of the mansions.  It wasn't lust that made his gaze linger on her but more the fact he knew who she was and his heart sank;  this girl was trouble...not in a criminal way but in an interfering and counter-productive way.  He hoped she was here just passing time and not here for work...He approached her, hoping to find out which.

"Miss Blake, what brings you here?" he asked.

"Detective Action...thank goodness you're here!" she replied.

"What's the problem?" he asked.

"Well, nothing yet...but we're on a case and we might need your help at any moment!" she said, with a keen look of excitement and wonder in her face.

"So what's this case you've got on?" 

"We've stumbled upon an old legend of the Marshman..." she began "...and he's been sighted all along here, terrorising the residents and forcing some of them to leave their homes!"

"A marshman...OK, I'm outta here..." said Action, turning to walk away but Daphne grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"I mean, it might not actually be a Marshman but something else that's why Fred and Velma are checking the houses along the clifftop whilst Shaggy and Scooby..."

"You have members of your team called Shaggy and Scooby?" asked an incredulous Action.

"Yes...Scooby Doo, our dog...remember?"

"Remember?  That mutt bit one of my officers:  They had to go to the hospital to get shots and stiches!"

"They frightened Scooby and he'd not had anything to eat..." protested Daphne.

"If I see that dog of yours anywhere near it I'll call the Dog Pound and have him hauled away!" Exclaimed Action.  "Meanwhile I'm going to investigate a real crime and not some local myth concocted by drunks!"

And with that he turned heel and left Daphne and her stupid friends to their nonsensical ideas.  His troubles not over yet, he saw two women having an all out fight nearby.

"Take THAT you bitch!"

"Why you lying, cheating WHORE!"

"OK, ladies...calm it right down!  I'm Action, Sim City PD so break it up you two!"

He grabbed one woman and dragged her away from the other then stood in between them, arms outstretched to keep them apart.

"OK, now that you've calmed down tell me what the issue is" said Action, forcefully.

"Well...isn't it obvious?" said the red headed one of the two.

"Don't tell me, you've been invited to the same social event and you're wearing the same outfits.  Oh dear.  How sad.  Never mind." he said, sarcastically.

"If only it were that simple!" said the one with black hair.  "MY boyfriend bought me this dress!"

"Tsch, as if he's your boyfriend!  I've been seeing him for weeks" said the other.

"WELL I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS AND HE IS MY BOYFRIEND!"

"He isn't or else he wouldn't be seeing me and buying me this dress!"

"Why you lying little bitch..." and with that the black haired woman lunged at the red head.  Action pulled her back in the nick of time before she had hit the other one. 

"None of that, ladies, unless you want to both end up in jail.  OK, who's this boyfriend you've both been seeing?"

"His name is Michael.  Michael Hemmingstamp" said the red head.  Action put his hands on his hips and shook his head in despair.

"What is it, Detective?" asked the raven haired woman.

"Michael Hemmingstamp, I might have known!" he answered.

"Do you know him?"

"I've met him once and believe me, ladies, you're both better off without him.  So is he back in the US?"

"Yeah, got back 3 days ago where me met up and renewed our romance" said the red head, smugly.

"OK, ladies, I'm not gonna bust you this time but if you see Hemmingstamp you tell him Detective Action of the 13th Precinct wants to talk with him...he knows where he can find me."

Action's focus of his patrol was the address he was given and he saw it up ahead.  As he got closer to it he could see the old fashioned balconies with their intricately carved wooden balustrades and the many shuttered windows that lined the entire house.  It looked immaculately kept but there was no sign of activity or life in the property.

Action wanted to know more about what went on in there so he decided to bend the law a little bit.  He found a spot along the front wall where he could haul himself over it and, checking to see no one was looking, he clambered over it and landed in the front courtyard.

The grounds looked immaculate.  Someone tends to this place or pays someone to do it, thought Action.  He crept closer to the house, staying low to avoid being spotted until he reached one of the shuttered windows on the lower floor level.  He pressed his body tight up against one of the walls, took a peek around into the window and noticed that the windows were spotless and that inside there were dust covers all over the furniture but the floor and carpets were dust free.

Someone comes around to keep this place tidy but no one lives here.  This would make a good safe house, he pondered.

Action didn't want to chance his arm too much so he climbed back over the wall and ran back to his car.  Back at 13th Precinct he went straight to Bibi to tell her what he had found.

"Bibi...that address Cole found, I reckon it's used as a safe house.  Immaculately kept but no one lives there and everything's under dust covers." he said.

"Hmm, possibly" she replied in her usual cautious way.  "I suppose the reason you're telling me this is that you want to find out who owns it, how often it's used and is there anything my criminologist eye can spot that you cannot?"

"You've read my mind, Bibi" said Action with a smile.

"No, I know you all too well" she replied.

It was now the end of the shift and Action headed home but before he set off he went to a nearby phone booth to make a call to someone who could help him...in an unofficial capacity.

When he got home his unofficial contact was waiting for him outside his house.  It was Aurora Ahmed:  A former criminal turned informant for Action.  Aurora still looked every inch the tomboy and when he arrived she looked impatient as she had her arms folded and was tapping her foot on the ground.

"What's up, Action.  Be warned, I can't hang around here for long so make it snappy" she said.

"I want some information about a couple of things.  One, a property in Sage Estates called Oakenstead.  Who owns it?  Who uses it?  The other; I want the complete low down on Maddy Henson...where she lives and who she's hanging around with these days."

"Maddy Henson...now there's a name I haven't heard for some time" said Aurora.  "OK, leave it with me.  Same rates?"

"Same rates...and I want receipts this time!"  Action replied.

"OK...I'll be in touch when I find something out.  Gotta go...stay lucky, Action" she said and with that she abruptly headed off.  Action smiled and went into his house; Aurora was the best informant he had and he knew she'd dig something up that he would find useful.

When he got inside he saw his answerphone flashing a light that meant he had a message.  He rewound the cassette tape and pushed Play.

"Hi...It's Katherine.  Fancy hanging out down Windenberg way?  I'm at the pool and the water's delicious.  Bring your swim shorts..."

The machine beeped and Action switched it off.  A swim with Katherine?  Yeah, he could do with that after this day's shift.  He grabbed a set of swim shorts, spare civilian clothes, a bottle of men's cologne called 'Mondo' and put them all in a bag.  He was imagining Katherine in a bikini with wet hair and floating on her back in the pool.  That very image made him waste no time in getting what he needed and getting down to the pool at Windenburg in double quick time.

He parked up, grabbed his bag and walked on over to the pool, which was situated right on the quayside of the Lykke Centre.  Who should be waiting out the front but Katherine and she was wearing a white bikini as well.  She didn't have wet hair but in all other ways she lived up to Action's imagination.  

"Aren't you cold?" he said, leaning towards her to give her a kiss.

"It's a lovely warm evening...I've just had a paddle but the water's inviting." she replied.

"So are you...lead on."

She grabbed his hand and led him in, past the queue of people waiting to gain admittance.  Clearly Katherine had used her influence to be able to wander in with a guest without the staff batting an eyelid, Action thought.  Still so much about her, her background and what she got up to during the day was still unknown to him.  Despite her occasional protestations that she wanted to be at the centre of everything he did and to be kept informed she had an enigmatic quality about her that kept a lot hidden from him.

He went to the men's changing rooms and got into his speedo trunks before heading out to find Katherine already in the water, encouraging him to jump right in.  From her perspective he heart skipped a beat when she saw him in those tight briefs.  His body was so chiselled, almost like a statue of a Greek god, and the trunks left little to the imagination.  

"Just jump right in, lover" she said, entincingly.

"I'm going to...but from up there" he said, pointing to the diving board.

"Show off" Katherine replied.

Action climbed the ladder and walked to the end of the board.  His toes overhung it as he lined up to perform his dive.  He shut his eyes, took a deep breath and held his arms out to his sides.  Then, with a short bounce, he launched himself into the air, the arms swung around to point right in front of him and then...splash...he was in the water, plunging downwards.  He felt the cool water all over his entire body and as his fingertips touched the bottom of the pool he swung himself to point upwards and, breathing out, he surged to the surface.  Those few seconds cleansed his thoughts of all cares, hassles and strife.  Now on the surface, he looked around the pool to see where Katherine was and one by one those cares started to creep back in.

If only he could get hold of those diaries it would answer everything.  He deliberately didn't tell Aurora that the theft of the diaries could be linked to the people that had scared her the last time he asked her for information.  The diaries, Maddy Henson, Leanne McGregor, the Landgraabs...all linked somehow and then there were the journals Suzy and Neil had found...

"Nice?" asked Katherine as she swam towards him.

"Beautiful...like you" he said, smiling at her as he trod water.  He then put his arms around her waist and they bobbed together in the water.  "Will we get thrown out if we did this?" he asked as he smiled invitingly at her.

"This is OK...I don't think it counts as heavy petting thought.  They will throw us out if we did that."

"So noted.  Well a little swim, a little of this and maybe a little of lounging by the pool suits me just fine" he said, looking at her lithe, supple body just about clad in a very tiny bikini.  Everything about this girl was classy, he thought.

They had done a few laps and Action did a whole length swimming underwater.  He made it with just one lungful of air but was gasping when he surfaced.  He grabbed the side of the pool and took in a few deep breaths of air as he recovered.

"Pushing yourself again, Action?" asked Katherine as she swam next to him.

"Always the way, baby" he replied.

"I hope nothing's worrying you about work" she followed up.  She could tell he was holding something back from her and that was probably work related.

Action turned his head sideways to glare at her.  Not because he was angry with Katherine but, dang it, how was she able to read his mind and mood all the time?  He'd often thought this.

"I feel that all the bits of rumour, information and all those strange incidents are coming together, Katherine.  Just a bit more and I'll have the case solved!" 

"Which case, though?" she asked.

"All of them!" he replied with excitement in his voice.  "The fire at Cuffe's, the assassination attempt, Goth's diaries stolen, the glade, the Landgraabs...all of it, almost within my grasp!"

"I about understood half of what you said there.  But do you really think it's all connected?" she asked.

"Pretty sure.  My hunches usually turn out to be right"

"Hunches are just experience plus a bit of psychology thrown in there...minus the jargon, of course" said Katherine.  "So if you think there's a connection there probably is."

Action didn't immediately respond or even look her in the eye.  Instead he just floated there at the edge of the pool, looking out over the bay.  Eventually he nodded and turned towards Katherine.  "I'm hungry, are you?"

"A little" she replied.

"Let's get a bite to eat" he said, hauling himself up and out of the pool.  Katherine knew when his mind was made up to do something so she swam over to the ladder and got out as well.

Once dried and dressed they headed over the road to the Hare & Hedgehog cafe.  It held fond memories for them...it was where they decided to go steady all those months ago.

It was busy in there with the lights turned down lower than normal and a smooth bit of funk jazz was playing on the cafe's speaker:  Action looked around for a place to sit.  It was counter service so he said to Katherine "what do you want?  I'll order and you find us a table" 

"A slice of New York cheesecake and an espresso" she replied.  "Hey, that's Mortimer Goth over there" she added, nodding subtly in Goth's direction.

"So it is...but it's food and drink first and Goth later" Action replied.  Action went over to the barista and placed the order and leant on the counter top, watching Goth's every move.  The man was on his own and seemed completely uninterested in what was going on around him.  He drank his coffee whilst peering at his diary with his eyes never venturing upwards from his book.

The barista put Action's order on a tray and the cop walked over to where Katherine was sitting, at a communal bench area as the other tables were either occupied or else had signs that people had gone to the bathroom or somewhere else and left their unfinished food and drink...and jackets in some cases...on the table.

"I hope this is OK, seating wise.  What we lose in face to face contact..." began Katherine

"I can make it up with fondling your knee."  Action replied.

"You're fresh!...but if you want to play cops first then we're right next to Mortimer Goth and he hasn't noticed us."

"He hasn't taken his eyes off of that book he's reading either."

"Must be interesting"

"Riveting.  So much so people want to steal his books"

"Is that what this is about?  OOH!  You weren't joking about fondling my knee either!"

"Hmmm, silky smooth"

"Stake outs with you are certainly lively"

"Yeah, but Cole doesn't like his knee being fondled" said Action with a wry smile.

"What do you think he's reading?" Katherine said, not rising to the joke and instead concentrating on watching Goth.

"The latest instalment of his epic mystery story" said Action, dryly.

"A novel?"

"Anything but"

They finished their meals and drinks and whilst they chatted they observed Goth continuing to read.  At one point a barista approached him with a pot of coffee and asked if he wanted a top up.  Goth just nodded without even looking at them.  The barista duly topped up his cup and walked over to another table to serve the customers there.

"Will you speak to him now?" asked Katherine.

"Yep...at some point I'm going to interrupt his reading."

"I need the bathroom so now's your chance" she said, getting up.  Action nodded and put his coffee cup down.

He slowly made his way over to where Goth was sitting and stood there, looming over him.

"Mr Goth" Action said, sombrely.  Goth didn't lift his eyes from his book at first but he wasn't ignoring Action either.  

After a few awkward seconds Goth still didn't look up at Action but merely said, in a soft voice, "Detective" as a way of returning a greeting.

"Do you mind if I sit down here?" said Action, pointing to a chair next to Goth.

"Can I stop you?" replied Goth.

"Not really...I want to talk with you about the burglary of your house"

Goth said nothing but indicated for Action to sit down.  Action took his place next to him.

"I must thank you for the swift return of my silverware, Detective.  You and your team have my personal gratitude." said Goth, who for the first time since arriving at the cafe had put his diary down.

Now it was Action's turn to pause before speaking.  He fixed Goth with a cool, intense stare before saying "how important are those missing journals to you?"

Goth gulped and looked nervous.  "Well...I...they contain ideas, thoughts, plot outlines for a future novel..." he said, almost stammering.

"...notes on your wife's disappearance?"  Action interrupted Goth's speech.

"As I've told you and that reporter, Suzy Kent, before that is none of your business!"

"It wasn't until those books were stolen.  Do you have any idea who could have taken them?"

"I wish to deal with the return of those journals myself, Detective.  I will approach certain individuals and offer a deal..."  Goth continued to remain dignified even though his voice was trembling with nervousness.

"Who, Goth...who are you going to contact?" said Action, with a glimmer of intensity in his gaze.

"It need not concern you..."

"WHO, GOTH?"

"This is a private matter, Detective, I want you to respect my wishes..."

"Bullshit, Goth!  A top thief was hired to steal those books, a woman was set on fire by the same people, someone was shot at and your wife was abducted...either by the same people or by someone affiliated with them.  That's a whole lot of crimes you're covering up for, Goth!"

"I...I...it's...complicated, Detective..." Goth stammered; he was clearly rattled now.

"I'll be the judge of that, Goth....now spill the beans or I'll throw you in the slammer!"

CHAPTER 131: Swiss Cheese Memory

 

"Set me up with another one" said Action to the bartender.

"Sure thing, Action.  You're starting to become a real regular down here" the bartender replied.

"I like the vibe"

"Well, not much is going on right now...the Kitten Show isn't until much later; that's when this place gets really buzzing"

"I thought I'd avoid the crowd on this occasion."

"Shame...I mean, apart from catching the Kittens in action Mr Cuffe is usually down here as well and you might want to catch up with him.  There you go, another Bourbon.  I'll put it on your tab, shall I?"

"Sure.  You know, people keep talking about how me and Alan Cuffe know each other but I can't remember ever meeting the guy."

"Seriously?  I've been on shift twice when I've seen you and he talking." said the barman, surprised.

"Don't remember either time" replied Action, downing the drink in one gulp.

The barman was about to say something but thought better of it.  Clearly Action was wrestling with a problem and he didn't know the guy well enough to pry.  To some customers he was a friendly face to pour out their woes to but to Action, he knew he was the kind of guy to wrestle with his issues alone.

"I'll settle up for the drinks now" said Action.  "But if you say I was here talking to Alan Cuffe I have no reason to think you're lying.  I just can't.....well, maybe I had a lot to drink those nights.  OK, catch you later" he said, getting up and throwing a 10 Simoleon bill on the counter.  "Keep the change"

Action left the Kitten Club and walked around the neighbourhood mulling over the information that he had two conversations with the proprietor, Alan Cuffe.  Why couldn't he remember either of them?  Cuffe was a bit of a local celebrity:  Publisher of Lothario magazine and owner of The Kitten Club...two well known but controversial enterprises.  Surely he'd remember meeting that guy?  Up ahead he spotted a familiar face; Saya Kobayashi.  He maintained a network of informers and useful contacts who he could call on for information...well, now seemed like a good time to call on one of them now; Saya.

"Hey, Saya, you got a minute?"

"For you, Action, I have 10" she replied.

"I'm working on a case...or at least I was...and I'm trying to fill in a few blanks.  What do you know of the Leanne McGregor case?"

Saya took a deep breath and let out a sigh.  "You know the FBI have taken over that from your precinct?"

"So they tell me.  Anything else?"

"Well, they're working on the angle that she's a Russian spy.  Or at least one of the Soviet Bloc.  Other than that you know how the Feds are; they play it close to their chests."

"Any known accomplices?"

"None have been named but the night you pursued her..."

Action nodded although he had no recollection of that evening.  He'd heard Suzy Kent mention that chase but try as hard as he might, there was nothing in his memory about it.

"...they reckoned the only way she could have got away from you so quickly is that she had a getaway man nearby:  You got startled by some headlights and that's when he swooped in to pick her up."

It made sense from an outsider's perspective but the trouble was; he wasn't an outsider to those events but now he might as well have been.  His conversation with Saya was interrupted by someone he vaguely knew:  Geoffrey Landgraab.  He was out on his daily run and he stopped when he saw Action up ahead and decided to walk over to him.

"Detective Action, out and about I see" said Landgraab.

"Mr Landgraab" said Action, nodding curtly to the man.  

"I'm wondering if you're working on any big cases at the moment?" said Landgraab.

"Nothing major, why do you ask?" replied Action.

"Oh in case you decide to harass my son again, that's all.  But as far as you and the SCPD are concerned we're not involved in any major investigations, is that right?"  Landgraab seemed intent on pressing this point, which seemed odd to Action.  Saya looked on at the interplay between the two men, wondering how Action would respond.

"Not that I'm aware of" said Action, slowly and cautiously.  "You've got something to hide, Mr Landgraab?"

Geoffrey let out a short laugh.  "Oh no...we're legitimate but you know how there were rumours about us and, well, that arson incident" he said.

"I don't know anything about that; it's with the FBI." replied Action.

"You know nothing about that, eh?" replied Landgraab, looking suddenly cheerful.  "That is interesting.  Well don't overwork yourself, Detective...good day"

Landgraab resumed his run and as Action and Saya watched him head off she said "that sure was a strange tone to take with you, Action:  What does he know that you don't?"

"Right now, a whole lot of things" replied Action.

___________________________________________________________________________

Action had more places to go today.  He'd been avoiding having a conversation with his girlfriend, Katherine, as he was meant to be meeting her on that day where he lost his memory.  The knowledge that something should be there in his head, that things happened only a few days ago but for some reason it was completely gone and, as a result, he ended the day by standing her up was eating at him.  He would completely understand if she was mad at him.

There was a café down Windenburg way that was a favourite spot of theirs:  It was quiet, discrete and served traditional Italian and Austrian style pastries and Action thought they made the best damned coffee in the city.  He saw that Katherine had already arrived there so he coolly walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.  She, on her part, didn't shy away.

"So what's this all about, Action?" she asked him outright.

"Crazy stuff's going down, darling.  Let's grab some coffee and I'll tell you about it." he replied.

"So what happened to you the other day, when you stood me up?" said Katherine after they sat at one of the cafe's tables.

"I don't know" replied Action.  "I have no memory of that day except to find out that I'm down at the Planet Honey Pop bar...which is a place I can't stand...with no recollection of how or why I was there.  It's been eating me up for days...I go into work to find out I'm supposed to be working on this high profile case and...nothing.  I know nothing about it but they all tell me I've been working on it for weeks.  I've had to pretend that I know what's going on...covering up my lack of knowledge.  Anyway, they turned the case over to the FBI because there's a possible spy angle, I don't know.  I don't know a whole bunch of things right now.  And do you know what's really weird?  I'm there, reading these reports on this big crime like it's the first time I've heard of this case and it's written by me...it's my signature on the bottom of the documents!  It's like....it's like I've stepped out of my body and mind and am watching things like I'm detached!"

Katherine said nothing but instead reached out her hand across the table to hold his.  Action looked into her eyes and saw a look of concern. 

"Do you think..." she said after a while "...that you're suffering from some kind of trauma related to your time in Vietnam?  I mean, I hear about battle stress or fatigue and how it affects soldiers...even when they're not soldiers anymore"

Action shook his head.  "The thing about war is that you don't forget...you remember.  You remember a lot of things you wish you could forget.  No, this is something else and I gots to know what's going on here:  What's real and what's not?"

Katherine looked around the area, deep in thought.  The two of them sat in silence for a moment before she spoke.  "Action, it seems like a very specific event has been 'removed' from your memory.  I don't know what caused it, I can't begin to think how it could have been done, but my guess is that that day we were supposed to meet in the evening...you did something else that day that related to the case you can't remember"

Action let out a deep breath.  "I've considered that.  Dammit!  How do I recover that memory?"

"What about seeing a psychiatrist?"

"No!  If I do that and the police department finds out, I'll be suspended from active duty...be put behind a desk.  I don't want that on my record!" and with that he pounded the table with his fist.

"But you need professional help!" said Katherine, leaning towards him in conern.

"Yeah, but it'll be my kind of help!  You're right:  I have to do something but seeing a shrink ain't it!  I'm a detective, dammit, and a good one:  I'll piece it together!"  He finished his coffee, got up and left the money on the table for the waitress.

"Oh no you don't!" said Katherine, standing up as well.  "You're not going to go anywhere without me on this one!"

____________________________________________________________________________

It was very busy in downtown San Myshuno.  There was the flea market, the hustle and bustle of the food market and street music throughout.  Action and Katherine walked around the stalls and watched the busker play.

"So, who or what are we looking out for?" asked Katherine.

Action scanned the surroundings and replied "A contact.  One time they were an enemy but now...."

"They're a friend?"

"Not quite, but a heck of a lot friendlier than when I first met them.  There she is now"

Action signalled to a woman standing on the edge of the food court.  She had short, black hair combed forwards, wore heavy eye make up and wore a yellow plaid shirt over black slacks.  She was once known as "The Brain"; one of the top cat burglars in Sim City but her name was Aurora Ahmed...now a reformed criminal and police informant.  She saw Action and walked over to him.

"Hey, Action...who's your friend?" said Aurora.

"This is Katherine, Katherine I'd like you to meet Aurora Ahmed.  Aurora's my number 1 expert in the criminal underworld"

Aurora looked Katherine up and down and nodded, impressed.  "I take it you're off duty" she said.

"I am and this is strictly off the books, you dig?" said Action.  "Let's sit down and talk...I have a little proposition I'd like to outline to you."

"OK, Action, what's the deal this time?" asked Aurora.

"That case I was working on:  Leanne McGregor.  I want you to find out everything you can about her especially associates.  I don't think she works alone."

"Oh man, I told you that was too much for me to handle!" protested Aurora.  "No" she said, shaking her head.  "I'm out of this one, find someone else"

Action leaned across the table and looked her dead in the eye.  "So you found something out last time, did you?  I want to know what that is!"

Aurora took a deep breath and looked around.  "I...I..." she couldn't finish her sentence.

"I'm off the case:  It was handed to the Feds but I gotta know what's going on and I'm the one taking the big risk.  This time it's personal.  Tell me what you found out"

"Is she cleared to know?" said Aurora, nodding at Katherine.

"She's cleared.  Now spill the beans" replied Action.

"OK..." began Aurora.  "Your theory that she's a Soviet agent?  She ain't." 

"Alright, then who is she working for?" asked Action.

"They're called The Visitors.  I don't know what country they're from, I don't know who they work for or if they work for anyone other than themselves.  But get this...they have access to all kinds of weird stuff like lasers, those remote bombs found at Alan Cuffe's house, cars and craft that can be made to become almost invisible..."

"Oh come off it!" said Katherine in disbelief.

"Listen, doll, I don't care if you believe it or not, this is real!"  said Aurora, tersely.  

"Go on" said Action.

"They're also....telepathic.  They can read minds, hypnotise others..."

"Whoa right there!" said Action.  "Actually hypnotise people?  Yes!  It all makes sense!"

"I'm glad someone thinks so" said Katherine.

"Do you know if they can remove memories some someone?" Action asked.

"I'm not sure of the details" said Aurora.  "But I guess so"

"How did you find this out?" asked Katherine.

"It wasn't easy, believe me!" said Aurora.  "I did some digging around, starting at the end point of the Cuffe bombing and the attempt on Lilly Feng's life.  So I....well, 'obtained' some documents from Mrs Feng which led me to obtaining some other information from the Landgraab Corporation and these people...The Visitors...keep cropping up in top secret documents.  You owe me, Action."

"I can settle your expenses, off the books" said Action, pondering this new revelation.  "I think we all need a drink now"

Action and the two women headed over to the Waterside Warble bar for drinks but when Action went to the bar to place an order he noticed a familiar face already there.  Someone who was also embedded in this case:  Suzy Kent.

"Yo, Suz" said Action, greeting her.  "I think I've got the lowdown on the Visitors you mentioned...but let's talk where it's a little less crowded."

"Absolutely!" replied Suzy, enthusiastically.

Action described to Suzy what Aurora had told him.  She stood there, speechless for a few moments.

"Can you handle that?" asked Action.

"They sound superhuman!" she said, in a quiet voice so not to alert the other bar patrons.  "Are you sure this Aurora isn't yanking your chain because you arrested her a few months ago?"

"I'm a pretty good judge on who's on the level and who's spinning me lies, Suz" said Action.  "I believe her and it all fits in with the police reports AND what happened to me.  You found me in that bar, not being able to recollect anything from that day."

"But...actually erasing memories?  How do they do that?" asked Suzy.

"How does that tree lead to that grotto you found?  I ain't been there yet, but I'm telling you it all fits like a glove.  Between the two of us, we've found something that's beyond anyone's knowledge."

"What do we do now?  Tell the F.B.I.?" 

"Those turkeys won't believe us...no, you and me gotta delve deeper into this mystery.  You work your side of the street, I'll work mine.  We gotta deal?"

"We gotta deal" nodded Suzy.

After finishing his drink, Action introduced Aurora to Suzy.  "This here's my co-investigator, Suzy Kent" he said.

"The 'Hey, Wow' columnist?  Is she up to the job?" asked a sceptical Aurora.

"I don't just cover the fashion beat and I also have half the story of what's going on" replied Suzy, defiantly.

"So anything you can share with me, Aurora, you can share with her" added Action.

Suzy headed off to her next engagement and Action briefed the rest of his "squad" about what to do next.

"OK, this is strictly off the record...no cops, no Feds.  Just us for now.  Aurora, I can pay you expenses if you need anything to help crack this case."

Aurora nodded.  "OK, Action, I'll be in touch"

Aurora headed off as well, leaving Action and Katherine alone.

"Action, are you sure this is a smart move?  Not involving your own colleagues?" she asked.

"Babe, who's gonna believe us about mind reading, laser guns and the like?  No, I need cast iron information before I turn it over officially." he replied.

"It's beginning to sound like revenge, Action" she said with a hint of worry in her voice.

"They took part of my mind!  That's a violation I can't explain properly.  You just gotta trust me, Kat, on this one."

They walked home, making small talk but something was in the air...a tension between the two of them.  Outside of Action's home they stopped to talk and speak what was on their minds.

"It could get dangerous, Action" said Katherine.

"I know...which makes this next part more difficult" he replied.

"This next part of my life's gonna get rough.  I'm going after people...heck, we don't even know what kind of people they are...who can do all kinds of scary-ass stuff.  I need to do this next part on my own."

"On your own?" asked a surprised Katherine.  "But we've been together on this one for so long!"

"That's before it got freaky.  These "visitors" have all kinds of advanced weapons and abilities.  If they get me, they can get you and I can't let that happen!  You need to stay out of this, Kat.  This is my fight!"

"So is it over between us?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I only want to put us on hold, babe.  I will come back" he said, holding her hands.

"I'm afraid you might not" she said.

"The hood, the Cong, the punks...ain't none of them made a scratch on Action.  But it's gonna get hairy out there.  I'll see you down the line, Kat"

He gently stroked the side of her cheek as she shut her eyes with sadness.  "I....know." she said, her voice cracking.

They kissed, one last time, and then Katherine hailed a taxi to take her home.  Action watched her leave and then headed home to bed.  He was angry:  He was going to hunt these Visitors down and make them pay!

CHAPTER 120: The Chase

"STOP!  IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!" Yelled Action as he gave chase to the mysterious woman who went by the name of Leanne MacGregor.  She was the new chief suspect in the attempt to kill Policewoman Marina Beckett, Alan Cuffe, Madelyn Buchanan and Lily Feng.  Action had been alerted to Leanne's presence in Foundry Cove by his neighbour, Suzy Kent, an intrepid reporter who had done much to uncover who was behind these crimes.  Suzy had spotted Leanne in the street, confronted her and found out her name before being threatened by the strange woman.  Suzy then immediately roused Action, who grabbed his .38 service revolver and set off in pursuit.

Action had an athlete's physique and was able to run at speed as soon as he shot out of his front door.  Within seconds he had turned the corner into the main road and could see Leanne up ahead.  He yelled his challenge, all the while preparing to ready his revolver in case she was armed.  But the woman just walked casually ahead, not gathering pace but not slowing down either.  She completely ignored the challenge he had shouted and walked on.

"STOP!  POLICE!" he yelled again, gun in hand.  She ignored him and walked on.  Action was perplexed:  He was running at full speed and yet despite the fact she appeared to be casually walking he hadn't gained on her:  She was always constantly 30 feet away from him, he didn't understand how.  He now considered firing a warning shot to stop her but, suddenly, the brilliant white headlights of a car which was heading towards him momentarily blinded his vision.  

When he'd recovered his eyesight, seconds later, Leanne was nowhere to be seen.

Action was mystified by all this:  Where did she go?  How did she maintain that same distance from him despite his chasing after her?  He looked down the road:  It was the main road through Foundry Cove with no side streets for 500 yards in the direction she was heading so she couldn't have gone down there.  He frantically looked into people's front yards and in the communal garden in case she was hiding but she was nowhere to be found.  Perhaps she lived locally and had vanished into one of these houses?  He decided to go door to door, prepared to wake people up if necessary, to find her.  After two hours of this he'd turned up nothing:  No one had seen her, no one had heard of her name and although some people had heard him shouting to her to stop, no one had witnessed anything.  He went back home, called Precinct 13 and explained the situation to the head of the night shift.  An APB was put out for any units in the area who had seen her:  They were to detain her and take her to the precinct house.

The next day Action arrived for his shift despite only getting 4 hours sleep the night before.  This case had now moved up a gear and he was too restless and fired up to take things easy.  He headed straight to his desk in the squad room to file a full report on what he had seen and the actions he took the previous evening.  Seeing Action working frantically at his desk, Duty Sergeant Kitchen approached him.

"Did Night Shift find anything, Sarge?" Action asked.

Kitchen shook his head.  "They did a thorough house to house search and turned up nothing" he replied.

"Well, we've got a name, an age and a physical description so the next step is to get a photofit image of her and get it to all units." said Action.

"Have you considered that might not be her real name?" asked Kitchen.

Action said nothing but gave Kitchen a look that said "don't insult my intelligence".  

A uniformed policeman entered the squad room and said "The chief wants to see you, Action".  Action got up from behind his desk and went to the Chief's office.

Two other police officers were present, one of them being Cole Michaels of the Juvenile Investigation Team...or 'Mod Squad' as it was informally known as.

"Action!" bellowed the Chief.  "What's the latest on this woman?"

"I'm getting a photofit image of her so we can distribute that to all our mobile units, witnesses and newspapers.  We have a name...which is probably false but nonetheless a name she uses.  She gave her age as 27, which fits her physical description and another clue is that she says she's originally from out of town."

There was more Action could have mentioned:  The claims she was a hypnotist, or could levitate or that strange way she could just stay ahead of him as he chased her without breaking into a run.  To bring up those things to the Chief would probably lead him to being suspended and sent off to see a psychiatrist.  Instead, Action suppressed that information.

"So how did she get away?" said the Chief.

"She's skilled at escape and evasion, she managed to infiltrate Cuffe's house and plant a bomb and she's most likely the one who tried to shoot Lily Feng.  My guess is that she's a spook" replied Action.

"A spook?" the Chief didn't recognise the term.

"A spy, a secret agent...maybe one of ours, more likely a foreign agent.  That hint 'I'm from out of town' could be a clue.  It fits that she's works or has worked for some Intelligence agency."

The Chief paced up and down the office.  "Dammit!  If that's the case then we'll have the F.B.I. and the N.S.A. on our backs!  The paperwork...the paperwork!" he said.

"Sir...I want to get back out on the street, I want to shake down my informants...one of them should give us a lead." said Action.

The Chief nodded before turning to Cole.  "And I want your team to work their contacts and informants as well.  Apparently she's a fashionable young woman so she might be known in the latest trendy spots...your pimply squad should know where to look"

Cole said a brisk "yes sir!".

Action and Cole left the Chief's office and walked down the hall to the reception area together.

"So, Action, what avenue will you be pursing next?" Cole asked.

"Question everyone working for Cuffe and the Fengs.  Maybe this Leanne works in either organisation or has a contact in them.  I've asked one of Cuffe's Kittens to meet me here to give a statement.

"Well...if you need any help interrogating her then I'm available" said Cole.  "I mean I could be good cop, you could be bad cop"

"Easy bucko..." said Action.  "I know your angle:  This isn't a pick-up joint.  You get your squad out there into the clubs and I'll work with Miss Black Cat herself".  They could see, at the front desk, a strikingly attractive black woman who Action recognised from the time he had attended a Kitten Club meeting.  Her name was Yadira Rosado but was known publicly as Miss Black Cat:  Kitten of the Month for May 1966.  

"Yadira, good of you to come down" Action said.  "I need to ask some questions about the fire"

"Sure" Yadira replied.  "But I wasn't there so all I know is what I learned from Alan and Madelyn...oh, and what I saw on the news"

"Maybe you can shed some light on another matter" Action replied.  "Does the name Leanne McGregor ring any bells for you?"

"No, can't say it does" replied Yadira.

"Take a look at this picture...does she seem familiar?" he said, showing her the photofit image.  Yadira studied it for 10 seconds.

"Yeah, she does seem familiar.  I've seen her about...we did a show down at the Blue Velvet club last month and I saw her in the crowd.  It was weird; everyone was dancing and grooving but not her...that's why I remember...it seemed odd and out of place that she wasn't joining in.  Then, last week, I saw her again outside the Kitten Club in Newcrest when we had the big grand opening.  Again, she didn't come in to the club but she was hanging around for quite a while outside.  I remember arriving at the club in my normal clothes, going in to change into my costume and when I was ready I walked past the entrance and she was still there!  Half an hour after I'd arrived and still standing in the same spot!" 

 All this went into Action's notes but now he had to follow up this lead and head over to the newly built Kitten Club itself.

The club had opened only last week and was one of the brand new developments in Newcrest.  It looked pretty smart on the outside and Action was impressed.  He couldn't work out if Alan Cuffe, the founder of the Kitten Club and proprietor of Lothario magazine was the sexually liberated man of pleasure he made himself out to be or was he hiding something more sinister and criminal?

The interior didn't disappoint either.  It was large, modern and decked out in black, white and red.  Action sauntered past the bar and noticed the large dance floor in an adjacent room.  He nodded to the bartender "Is the boss in?" he asked.

"Upstairs" the man replied.

Action headed straight upstairs to find Cuffe and noticed his assistant, Madelyn, dressed up in her Kitten outfit and talking to a smart looking business type.

"Why, Detective Action, is this a business visit or....are you here for pleasure?" she said, flirtatiously.

"It's business today.  Is Cuffe around?" replied Action.

"He's over there...shame you're here on business.  Why not visit another time and have a little fun instead?" she said, winking at him.

"I might just do that" said Action.

Action saw Cuffe in the distance, talking to a member of his staff.  He sauntered over to the man and directly interrupted their conversation.

"Under no circumstances are the staff to reveal any of their personal details:  Last names, addresses or phone numbers.  You got that?" said Cuffe.  The man nodded.

"Mr Cuffe" said Action.

"Detective...you have this unerring gift of showing up when I'm at my busiest" replied Cuffe.

"I need to ask some more questions"

"I figured that the moment I saw you enter...let's go over here; it's more discrete."  Cuffe showed Action over to a seating area with deep, leather sofas.  "Do you like the place, Detective?  This is phase 3 of my grand business plan."

"What were phases 1 & 2?" asked Action.

"Phase 1 was the establishment of Lothario magazine, phase 2 was the creation of a social club and an image in human form..."

"The Kittens"

"That's right.  This is phase 3:  The building of a bricks and mortar venue for men of taste and sophistication to meet women who can satisfy those needs"

"Some might call that prostitution" said Action, cynically.

"Detective, I am disappointed with your grubby imagination.  This is not vice...no money changes hands for 'services rendered'.  This is a venue to facilitate liberated social interaction, I make money from club membership, food and drink and merchandising.  Now I thought you were investigating the attempts on mine and Madelyn's lives"

"And also my colleague, Marina" said Action.

"Of course.  I hear she's been discharged from hospital now.  Excellent news.  Now what do you wish to ask me about?"

Action pulled out the photofit image.  "Do you recognise this woman?  She goes by the name of Leanne McGregor" he said.

Cuffe took the image and looked at it, at one time holding it at arms length from his face.  "Hmmm, can't say I do" was all he replied.

"Look at it again.  This woman was standing for half an hour outside of your club on the opening day.  One of your closest members of staff remembers seeing her and I bet if I asked around more would recognise her as well.  Funny that you don't, seeing that you oversaw everything on that opening day."

"Well, the face does seem quite familiar..." said Cuffe, nonchalantly.

"She was also the woman seen standing outside your home on the morning of the fire, the woman seen talking to Nancy Landgraab."  

"I was a little preoccupied that morning with Marina at that time, so to speak"

"I bet you were" said Action, cynically.  "I'll ask you again; do you recognise this woman and believe me, Cuffe, I'll haul each and every one of your staff down to the station to interrogate them until I get a straight answer.  You could save a lot of lost time and business if you level with me now."

Cuffed hummed and eventually said "Yes, I have met her...only the once.  I met her at a bar in Willow Creek and got chatting.  I thought she had the potential to become a Lothario Kitten and offered her a position in my organisation.  She declined and looking back I think it was a good decision:  There was something in her manner that was cold and remote...not the qualities I look for in a Kitten."

"And on the day of the opening?" continued Action.

"Well....yes..." Cuffe was getting defensive now.  "A couple of times but I was too busy to take an interest in what she was doing there."

"I'm getting the impression you're not being entirely straight with me" said Action, a forceful tone in his voice.  "This woman clearly makes you nervous just talking about her.  What else do you know?"

"Look, Action, she's way above your pay grade.  Don't ask me how I know, I just know that she's best left to the F.B.I. or C.I.A. or someone at that level.  A local plod just won't cut it even if he does swagger around in a fancy suit."

"Is she a foreign intelligence agent?  I have good reason to suspect she is" said Action, homing in on what Cuffe had just said.

Cuffe paused and looked at a random patch of the carpet as he composed his thoughts.  "Yes...along those lines, Detective.  Like I said, she's above your grade."

Action stood up, pointed his index finger at Cuffe's chest and pressed hard.  "Don't hold ANYTHING back from me in future, Cuffe.  Or else I might just have to run a background check on your staff"

Action walked away but paused to speak with Madelyn again.  "Say, Madelyn" he began "do you recognise this woman?" he said, showing her the image.

"Yeah, that's the woman who came to fix the electrics in the living room" said Madelyn.

Action nodded and walked out of the club but as he did so he saw a familiar face, and not particularly a welcome one either.  Aurora Ahmed:  A career criminal who specialised in breaking and entry.  He'd busted her a few months ago for her part in a string of robberies but the D.A. cut a deal before she went to trial where she gave up some names of pretty important organised crime bosses in exchange for a suspended sentence.  Now she was here in the Kitten Club.

"Well, well, well, a bad penny always shows up" he said, sitting next to her.  "You should be doing jail time"

"I cut a deal with the D.A....I don't want to do another stretch in the slammer so...get this...I'm now a paid police informant.  Get a load of that" she replied.

"There's no justice in this world.  But seeing as you're an informant now and I'm still the law I need to put you to work."

"I charge a fee" she replied.

"I'm sure you do.  Here's 50 Simoleons to get you started.  I want to find this woman" he said, once again showing the image.  "The name's Leanne McGregor, age 27, probably foreign but speaks English fluently.  We think she's with some kind of secret agent."

Aurora studied the photo.  "And if I find her I want a bonus" she said.

Action then headed to downtown San Myshuno where he had more informants.  It was the same routine:  Show the photo and give out the name.  

After pounding the beat, he did see one more person he was keen on speaking with:  The woman who began this whole investigation when a folder containing photographs from a fashion shoot belonging to her was snatched by a local petty criminal working for someone higher up and unknown.  That woman's name was Penny Pizazz.

"Miss Pizazz" said Action as he approached her.

"Detective....Action, is it?" she replied.

"That's right, do you have a moment to talk?"

"Sure, Detective, what's up?"

"Those photographs that were stolen from you?  Were they all the photos that were taken that day?"

"Oh goodness me, no" she replied emphatically.  "The photographer will shoot reels and reels of film but only select the very best for publication, which is what I had in that folder."

"What happens to the other photos, the one's not chosen?" asked Action.

"Well, the photographer will have the negatives of those and the proof sheets:  That's a photo print of all the negatives...small, thumbnail sized images...on one photograph."

"Where can I find the photographer who took them?"

"His name's Michael Hemmingstamp but he's a British photographer who spends most of his time in the UK and only occasionally visits Sim City."

Action cursed under his breath.  He needed to see those photographs to see if one of them captured the gunman more clearly.  "Well, if you hear from him or he returns to the city can you give me a call straight away...here's my card.  Thank you"

Action headed back to Precinct 13 to report on and type up everything he'd gathered today then he finished his shift and headed home...late.  It had been a day of slow progress; of piecing together fragments of information about Leanne McGregor.  He had done pretty much all he could have done, it was now in the hands of the police force as a whole to use that information and hunt her down.

As he arrived at Foundry Cove he saw a familiar face lurking on the street corner:  Aurora Ahmed.

"Aurora, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I've come to tell you, Action, I'm out."  She looked bothered by something or someone.

"What?  Did you find something out about McGregor?"

"I found things out and I don't want to be anywhere near your case...she's dangerous, Action, and you're out of your depth!  Take my advice; quit this case as well."

"What did you find out?" said Action, forcefully.  "Do you need more money?"

Aurora shook her head.  "You can't afford to pay that much to keep me involved!  This is my life, Action, and the risks are too great.  McGregor is highly dangerous and you'll be a gonner if you mess with her."

"WHAT.  DID. YOU.  FIND.  OUT?" He repeated, shaking her by the shoulders.  She shrugged him off. 

"No...I'm out.  Drop the case...hand it over to the Feds...or the Army." and with that she walked off into the night.